Denis “Denny” Warta died on Wednesday at Oak Hills Living Center, a month shy of his 98th birthday.

He leaves a long legacy of friendship and service to the community. Warta’s contribution to New Ulm and the Brown County area cannot be overstated.

A complete list of the groups, commissions, organizations and city projects he was involved with would fill multiple pages. An abridge list of his accomplishments includes service in the U.S. Navy from Feb. 1946 to Dec. 1947 and a Naval Reservist from 1948 to 1956. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1648 and American Legion Post 132.

Warta held several occupations throughout his career, including banker, accountant, and water softener salesman. He purchased Lindsay Soft Water in 1954 and operate it as Warta Water, Inc. through 1995.

Denny Warta attending an Oct. 2024, New Ulm City Council meeting in which he donated to the city a replica of the Lion-man figurine, believed to be the oldest example work of art created by humans.

From 1973-1980, he served as Brown County’s First District Commissioner. He chaired Brown County Human Services during the same period.

New Ulm Police Chief and First District Commissioner David Borchert said he got to know Warta over the years and valued his input and perspective.

“He had an extremely good memory,” Borchert said. “He was a commissioner when many of the programs were started and he could give me the historical perspective. Often times Denny was part of research.”

Borchert especially appreciated Warta’s background on the courthouse additions. Warta’s time with the Brown County Commissioners coincided with courthouse expansions.

Borchert said Warta was able to explain why certain design decisions were made.

Denis "Denny" Warta

“Denny was always a wealth of information,” Borchert said. “He certainly lived a full life.”

Warta would also serve a term on the New Ulm City Council in the first ward. He was heavily involved in selecting his successor on the council. Ruth Ann Webster would serve on the council for 16 years.

“Denny is the reason I ran for city council,” Webster said. “He made an appointment at my office, came dressed for business, gave me his pitch and promised his support. I was extremely grateful. He was a lovely, generous man.”

Former Third Ward City Councilor Les Schultz said he was sad to hear of Wart’s passing.

“Denny was a friend for many years,” Schultz said. “As a city councilor, I would seek him out for advice and often he would seek me out on his thoughts on certain issues. I loved his jokes, humor and storytelling.”

Schultz said Warta had a strong passion for improving New Ulm.

“He always had multiple ideas or projects to discuss with whoever would lend an ear,” Schultz said. “He not only made a mark, his presence forever change this city. He will be missed by many.”

Currently, Third Ward Councilor Tom Schmitz said Warta was one of the icons of New Ulm.

“He was a very unique and special person that we are going to miss dearly. [Warta] did so much for our city, region and state,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz served as New Ulm’s Park and Recreation Director for 18 years and said Warta was instrumental in helping with many projects, including the redevelopment of the park and service with the Friends of German Park.

Schmitz said Warta was always promoting and celebrating New Ulm as a political official or a volunteer.

“I would challenge subsequent generations to carry on his legacy of community service, support, creativity and innovation,” Schmitz said

New Ulm’s Ward Four Councilor, Larry Mack, said he would remember Warta for always being one step ahead of everybody.

“He was always thinking of the next project, or the next five projects within our community,” Mack said. “He was really good about gathering people together, shareholders or, community-minded individuals who could come together for a cause.”

New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer described Warta as the city’s best known cheerleader.

“He was everywhere in the community,” Backer said. “He attended most events and up until the end he was promoting new projects and convincing people to come here.”

History was important to Warta. He was a lifetime member of the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) and was heavily involved with maintaining the Hermann the German Monument.

Darla Gebhard, BCHS Research Librarian, said she worked with Warta on several projects connected to the Hermann Monument. The two worked on creating the Hermann interpretive center and on the Hermann Monument Restoration and Perpetual Maintenance Society. These organizations later morphed into the Hermann Monument Society.

Gebhard said some of her best memories of Warta were his lecture series on Arminius, the real Hermann the German.

“They were wonderful,” she said. “He absolutely loved history.”

He would frequently come into the BCHS to discuss ideas for possible historical markers. Through his involvement with New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF), he would help find funding for projects in need.

“He was an amazingly sharp man,” she said.

Dr. Ann Vogel said Warta made countless contributions to New Ulm, but believed his legacy would be that of a man with countless friends who was dearly cherished by his family.

“He could always make people laugh,” she said. “He loved his fellowship at the B&L Bar. Even after his stroke, his family found a way to get him there.”

Vogel said she hopes people would remember Warta as the “King of Bohemia,” a title he was granted by the German Bohemian Heritage Society (GBHS) of Minnesota after a vote in 2002.

GBHS President Wade Olsen–and cousin to Warta – said the thing he would remember best about Warta was his love of people and New Ulm.

“Wherever he went, he built these long relationships,” Olsen said. This included trips overseas. Olsen traveled with Warta on several trips to Europe and saw him make ongoing connections with people on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We have social media to stay in connection now, but he was doing that before social media,” Olsen said. “He had a way of building people up.”

Olsen also praised Warta’s intellect and curiosity.

“Denny was always reading about history or science and sharing what he learned,” Olsen said. “He was always emailing people with ideas. He kept his mind active. He was a pretty special guy and New Ulm was fortunate to have him.”

Warta’s children, Diann Warta and Dean Warta, said they will remember their father as a man with a deep love for humanity.

“He was extremely caring,” Diann Warta said. “He sat down with a lot of people and gave them advice. He loved New Ulm. I think it showed with all the things he did for the community.”

“He always knew the right thing to say at the right time,” Dean Warta said.

They believe the secret to their father’s success was his ability to make connections. His goal was to know people. Diann and Dean repeated a line they heard their father say often: “I collect people.”